British & Irish Lions player ratings vs Sharks | 2021 Lions series
The British & Irish Lions player ratings, brought to you by The Famous Grouse
Covid-19 chaos has meant that Lions head coach Warren Gatland was forced into eight late changes to the 23 he named for the Sharks on Monday including a remarkable 7 – 1 split on the bench.
LIONS PLAYER RATINGS:
15. JOSH ADAMS – 8.5
Can’t stop scoring. A one-handed pick-up opening his account and his second was pure wanton try greed. Scoring a third bordered on bad manners.
14. LOUIS REES-ZAMMIT – 7.5
Great offload for Adams’ opening try for the Lions but snatched at a gettable crossfield. Had half a sniff in the 61st minute and turned it into a try. Sickeningly fast.
Louis Rees-Zammit couldn't be more attrac…#LionsRugby pic.twitter.com/jEsDOUd0Uc
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 7, 2021
13. ELLIOT DALY – 8
His siege gun boot got the Lions out of trouble more than once and his first half gallop up the pitch was a sight to behold. Again, numerous value-added moments in the midfield caught the eye, not least his flick on for on DVDM’s third try.
12. BUNDEE AKI – 7.5
Showed explosive acceleration to bust his way over for his first Lions’ try before halftime. Quietly going about the business of making himself a selection problem for management.
11. DUHAN VAN DER MERWE – 8
Big Dewie didn’t take it easy on his fellow South Africans, trundling over his first victim within six minutes. Showcased his genuine pace and skill for his second try which needed plenty of finishing, while his third was a gimme. Gatland and co have got a major headache on the wings.
10. OWEN FARRELL – 7
A late call-up amid the chaos this afternoon, his first contribution was a cool as you like offload in the lead to Adams try and followed that with a perfectly weighted 9-iron into space for VDM’s second. There’s a section of Lions’ supporters who delight in any perceived error on Farrell’s part, but he gave them little fodder here.
The most worrying revelation about a crazy day on the 2021 Lions tour #LionsRugby #CastleLionsSeries #LionsSA2021https://t.co/2JP2b4NaFX
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 7, 2021
9. ALI PRICE – 7.5
Price’s third game in a row and maybe it showed a little in the opening exchanges, and with Gareth Davies and Conor Murray isolated, he was the lone nine in the 23, so no respite here. Some huge plays over the ball bailed the Lions out, but a couple of fluffed lines in attack blotted his copybook.
1. MAKO VUNIPOLA – 4
Seemed to struggle with the surface and was repeatedly pinged by Peyper for collapsing. A dreadful first half of rugby by his incredibly high standards and you suspect he may have damaged his Test chances. Passed well in the second half mind, but that’s not what he’s there for.
2. LUKE COWAN-DICKIE – 8
Was at the centre of a concussion controversy early in the week but no obvious ill effects here. Did well to snaffle a ruck ball with the Sharks on the line, and was unlucky not to score a try on debut after a 20th minute fumble. His super-low tackling technique could yet end in tears, but his carrying in traffic more than impressed.
What Gatland had to say in a pre-game TV interview following a day of tour chaos for the Lions #LionsRugby #CastleLionsSeries #LionsSA2021https://t.co/UJG0twDSOx
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 7, 2021
3. ZANDER FAGERSON – 6
Started well, winning an early penalty against the Sharks scrum, but the 50 – 50 calls started to go the way of the home side. Most of the issues came on the loosehead side but he wasn’t completely blameless here.
4. IAIN HENDERSON – 7
A tremendously efficient ball carrier and defender but it’s his work off the ball that separates him from the average Test lock. No highlight-reel additions here but a solid outing.
5. ADAM BEARD – 6
Did a job in the lineout but didn’t do enough here to dispel the critics of his call-up.
6. JOSH NAVIDI – 8
A really bright start to Navidi’s tour. Dogged in attack and tireless in defence, a fine Lions debut for the flanker.
7. TOM CURRY – 6
A couple of classy contributions here and there but never really opened up. Bungled a try with line beckoning, which will have stung. Advantage Watson.
8. SAM SIMMONDS – 7
A smart, selfless pass to put Van Der Merwe away. Finally got to see the Chief open up with a 30-metre break up the pitch but suspect and hope there’s more in the tank.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Anna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
8 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
61 Go to comments